9.1

The Crysis series has always been near the top of the heap in the first-person shooter genre, and Crysis 2 is referred to by many as the best first-person shooter ever!. Is Crysis 3 the best first-person shooter I've ever played? Not quite, as that honor belongs to Call of Duty 4 Modern Warfare. Is it the best first-person shooter in a long time? Absolutely!

Graphics/Sound: 9.5/10

The Crysis series has always been known for its awesome graphics and Crysis 3 is no exception. The environment is completely photo-realistic and really sets the tone for the game. Everything is so detailed and the lighting is out of this world, with the sun reflecting off of literally every object and surface in the game. Graphics wise, this is easily of the best looking games ever released for Sonys Playstation 3 console. The sound is unbelievable as well. Every ricocheting bullet, every puddle splash and every vicious explosion sounds completely life-like and really make you feel like youre right there in the jungles of New York City.

Single Player: 9/10

Wait a second! Did I say jungles of New York City at the end of that last paragraph? I certainly did and that wasn't a typo. This game is set in New York City, which has now been turned into a rain forest. A rain forest inside of a giant Nanodome! I wont explain how that came to be because it would partially ruin the story, but the whole setting is very unique. The story is action-packed and reminds me a lot of a blockbuster style summer movie in its presentation. The voice acting is a lot better this time around too, which really goes a long way towards making the characters, and therefore the story, more engaging.

I really only have one problem with the single player aspect of Crysis 3, and thats length. If you're considering this game as solely a single player game, you may be disappointed. Dont get me wrong, its an outstanding game. The problem is its very short and easily the shortest in the franchise. However, like most first-person shooters, Crysis 3s real replay value comes in the form of its multiplayer.

Multiplayer: 9/10

Crysis 3 employs the same basic progression system used by the most popular first-person shooter franchises, like Call of Duty and Halo. Just about everything you do earns you experience points, and you use those points to level up your character. Each time you gain a level you unlock more weapons and abilities to bolster your arsenal. There have been some changes from the system though since Crysis 2. Instead of collecting the DNA of downed Ceph to upgrade your Nanosuit, youll randomly find Nanosuit kits littered around the levels. Also making its debut in the series is the bow, which is featured on the front of the game case. Its a really fun weapon to use, but a difficult one to master. However, its a one-hit kill which makes it a viable option even in the fast-paced world of Crysis 3 multiplayer.

There are nine game modes in Crysis 3s multiplayer with all the genre staples like Free-For-All, Capture the Flag, and Team Deathmatch present. My favorite mode though, would have to be the all-new Hunter mode. Each match begins with two hunters wearing cloaked Nanosuits and carrying bows. Their mission is to kill the other players, known as troopers, and convert them to their side until no one is left. Its a very simple concept thats been done before in many other first-person shooters, but its great fun nonetheless.

Final Score: 9/10

If you love first-person shooters then you owe it to yourself to own Crysis 3. As a longtime fan of the series, I couldn't be more satisfied with how the game turned out. The new Hunter mode is a blast, the game is gorgeous as usual, and the single player, while short, is thoroughly entertaining. This is truly one of those rare games that has it all.